"Well, then, come on. Yer can't 'spect the young lady to stand all day a-holding the coffee-pot up in the air, while you're a-talking out all the breath in your chest. Do send him on, sir." "All right; coming," growled Dumlow, and he went on, leaving me to fight with the fire, listening to the hissing and sputtering of the steam, fire, and water, and to the steady clang-clank of the pump. It was strange how shut in I seemed, and how lonely, in the midst of that white vapour; but it did not seem very long before the men returned to pass by on the other side, and after I had waited for the slight cessation of the water which followed, telling me that there was a fresh change being made at the pumps, I soon heard voices, and Mr Frewen came up to me to pass to the cabin. "Going to have some breakfast?" I shouted. "Isn't it Mr Preddle's turn too?" "Yes," he squeaked, from over the other side; "I'm going too, but it's very hard work passing along here. Dale, my dear boy." "Yes, Mr Preddle." "I've had a look in at my place forward, and quite half the fish are dead." "I'm very sorry," I shouted; and then in a lower voice to Mr Frewen--"Do have a look at poor Walters, sir," I said; "he's very bad." "Yes, he's very bad, Dale, mentally as well as bodily, I hope." "Oh yes, sir; he's horribly sorry now." "Sorry?--Hah!" I felt that I was not evoking much sympathy for my messmate, and I changed my attack. "Dumlow's in a lot of pain too, sir," I said. "I should be so glad if you'd see to him." "Poor fellow! Yes, I know his wound's worse than he'll own to. He shall have it dressed as soon as I get back. I wanted to do it before, but he was as obstinate as a mule." "Coming, Mr Frewen?" came from aft; and the doctor went on, leaving me once more alone, to go on searching out hot places with that jet of water till he returned and stood by me. "Why, Dale," he said, "you are winning." "Oh no, sir; it's as bad as ever," I cried. "Nonsense, my lad; not half. The mist is not so dense overhead, and the hissing and shrieking of the steam is nothing like so loud. We can talk to one another without shouting." "I say," squeaked Mr Preddle from the other side, "it isn't so thick, is it?" "No," cried the doctor; and just then Mr Brymer came near, and, to my surprise, I could see him dimly on the other side of the gap in the deck. "Three cheers!" he shouted; "the day's our own. In an hour or two we shall be able to cry hold hard!" Those three cheers were given--cheers as full of thankfulness as they were of joy at our prospect of final success. Mr Brymer came round to me, and laid his hand upon my shoulder. "Let Blane take the branch now," he said. "Why, Dale, my lad, you couldn't have stood to your water-gun better if you had been a man." And I felt a burning flash of pride in my cheeks, and that it was time to leave off, for my arms ached so that I could hardly direct the branch. CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.